linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of language
A language is a structured system of communication
Communication (from Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo ...
, a syntagma is an elementary constituent segment within a text. Such a segment can be a phoneme
In phonology and linguistics, a phoneme is a unit of sound that distinguishes one word from another in a particular language.
For example, in most List of dialects of English, dialects of English, with the notable exception of the West Midlan ...
, a word
In linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of language
A language is a structured system of communication used by humans, including speech (spoken language), gestures (Signed language, sign language) and writing. Most lang ...
, a grammatical phrase
In syntax
In linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of language, meaning that it is a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise study of language. Linguistics encompasses the analysis of every aspect of language, as ...
, a sentence
Sentence(s) or The Sentence may refer to:
Common uses
* Sentence (law), the punishment a judge gives to a defendant found guilty of a crime
* Sentence (linguistics), a grammatical unit of language
* Sentence (mathematical logic), a formula not cont ...
, or an event within a larger narrative structure, depending on the level of analysis. Syntagmatic analysis
In semiotics
Semiotics (also called semiotic studies) is the study of sign processes (semiosis
Semiosis (, ), or sign process, is any form of activity
Activity may refer to:
* Action (philosophy), in general
* Human activity: human behavior ...
involves the study of relationships (rules of combination) among syntagmas.
At the lexical level, syntagmatic structure in a language
A language is a structured system of communication
Communication (from Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken in the ...
is the combination of words according to the rules of syntax
In linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of language, meaning that it is a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise study of language. Linguistics encompasses the analysis of every aspect of language, as well as the ...
for that language. For example, English uses determiner + adjective + noun, e.g. ''the big house''. Another language might use determiner + noun + adjective (Spanish ) and therefore have a different syntagmatic structure.
At a higher level, narrative structure
Narrative structure is a literary elementA literary element, or narrative element, or element of literature is an essential characteristic of all works of written and spoken narrative
A narrative, story or tale is any account of a series of rela ...
s feature a realistic temporal flow guided by tension and relaxation; thus, for example, events or rhetorical figures may be treated as syntagmas of epic structures.
Syntagmatic structure is often contrasted with paradigmatic structure. In semiotics
Semiotics (also called semiotic studies) is the study of sign processes (semiosis
Semiosis (, ), or sign process, is any form of activity
Activity may refer to:
* Action (philosophy), in general
* Human activity: human behavior, in sociology ...
, "syntagmatic analysis
In semiotics
Semiotics (also called semiotic studies) is the study of sign processes (semiosis
Semiosis (, ), or sign process, is any form of activity
Activity may refer to:
* Action (philosophy), in general
* Human activity: human behavior ...
" is analysis
Analysis is the process of breaking a complex topic or substance
Substance may refer to:
* Substance (Jainism), a term in Jain ontology to denote the base or owner of attributes
* Chemical substance, a material with a definite chemical composit ...
of syntax or surface structure (syntagmatic structure), rather than paradigm
In science
Science () is a systematic enterprise that Scientific method, builds and organizes knowledge in the form of Testability, testable explanations and predictions about the universe."... modern science is a discovery as well as ...
s as in paradigmatic analysis
Paradigmatic analysis is the analysis of paradigm
In science
Science () is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge
Knowledge is a familiarity, awareness, or understanding of someone or something, such as facts ( ...
. Analysis is often achieved through commutation tests.
See also
*Ferdinand de Saussure
Ferdinand de Saussure (; ; 26 November 1857 – 22 February 1913) was a Swiss
Swiss may refer to:
* the adjectival form of Switzerland
, french: Suisse(sse), it, svizzero/svizzera or , rm, Svizzer/Svizra
, government_type = Fed ...
*Morphology (linguistics)
In linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of language, meaning that it is a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise study of language. Linguistics encompasses the analysis of every aspect of language, as well as the me ...
Notes
Sources
* Middleton, Richard (1990/2002). Studying Popular Music. Philadelphia: Open University Press. . *Cubitt, Sean (1984). Cited in Middleton (2002). Narratology Linguistic units {{ling-stub